Sunday, April 06, 2008

BUILDINGS AND SKIES...

...WITH THREE EXCEPTIONS - BILBAO - OCTOBER 2006

***

THESE ARE THE BUILDINGS AND THE SKIES...

"UNIVERSIDAD DE DEUSTO, opened in 1886, has campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastian. The main Bilbao building (the largest of its time) was designed by the architect Marquis of Cubas. For fifty years since 1916, its Business College was the only of its kind, becoming the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration in 1973"

"CONCORDIA STATION was built in 1898 by Severino de Achúcarro and Valentín Gorbeña. It has a spectacular façade facing the river, which is a good example of the Modernist influence in Achúcaro's creations. The remodelled and refurbished station is the departure point of FEVE trains to Balmaseda and Santander"

"ARRIAGA THEATRE - Built in Neoclassical style by Joaquín Rucoba and Octavio de Toledo, it opened its doors on May 31, 1890 and was named after the Bilbao-born composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga. The building resembles the Paris Opera and has a sumptuous interior. It was completely refurbished in 1986 after the severe flooding destructions of August 1983"

"SAN NICOLAS - This is a morning picture of the church also featured on my last post"

"RIBERA MARKET - Further to the building and the sky, some birds decided to join us for your enjoyment..."

"BEGOÑA - The Basilica is dedicated to Virgin Begoña, «Amatxo», the patron saint of Bizkaia. Built in Gothic style by Sancho Martínez de Arego in the place of the alleged Virgin's apparition in the early 16th century, it took more than one hundred years (1511 though 1621) to complete. The bell tower dates from the early 20th century"

"STEPS - From Begoña Hill to Plaza Unamuno"

"DOÑA CASILDA PARK - The one hundred year old park (its construction started in 1907, though some sources mention 1912 through 1920) is Bilbao's main park. Designed in Romantic style by Ricardo Bastida and Juan de Eguiraun, inspired by French parks, it offers some sculptures dedicated to different figures. This one is dedicated to the musician Aureliano Valle. At the right hand side, the Sheraton may be seen"

"AYUNTAMIENTO - Located across the City Hall bridge that links it to the central Abando district, the City Hall was built in Baroque style in 1892 at the former site of a convent. It seems that one of the highlights of the building is the Arab hall, a richly decorated hall that follows the Neo-Mudéjar style and resembles the decorations found in the Alhambra of Granada"

"CRANES & EVENING LIGHTS"

"CONCORDIA STATION BY NIGHT"

***

...AND THESE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS:

"BEGOÑA INTERIOR - The three naves Basilica has a neoclassical main altar, presided by the Virgin's niche"

48 comments:

Trotter
said...

For all those who were intrigued with the pintxos at Victor Montes in the last post, let me just say that there is a traditional sport in Spain: bar hopping before dinner! Bar counters in the Basque country display many pintxos, the equivalent to tapas in other areas of Spain, and making the rounds consists of popping in and out of several bars, grabbing a pintxo and drinking a txikito (a small glass of wine) in each one of them… This post has neither pintxos nor txikitos, as people are already in the skies… ;)Hope you enjoy, and love to read your comments!

Amazing architecture and tour, Gil ... count me in for 'making the rounds' (French tradition on New Year Eve in my hometown) and grabbing a pintxo and drinking a txikito in each one ;) Jolly wishes for a lovely weekend.

What can I say, all your photos are some, digital (or not?) I especially like the CRANES and EVENING LIGHTS plus the first foto, blue!!!

I'd try to check on this template, most templates with designs like this get messed up when the html is changed, so you need to mess with it more =D

Then remove the other header that was previously there, if it doesnt get better, use the minima template then resize again the layout then change the background colors...that's first for now, I'd be back...

Trotter. I'am all for all your trips !!! I do have a leaning toward your photos : I used to look at those every day albeit I'am very busy.Thanks for sharing. Thanks for giving us and bringing out the best. Thanks for your time.Sincerely. J.

It is as always a pleasure to watch your reports. As I said of Bilbao last week - it is on my short list. I must say I really liked the first picture with the blue canal giving perspective and the blue sky.

I liked the first picture of the Basilica series, very nice framed with all that wonderful clouds and the trees in the foreground! Actually I liked all the others too because of your interesting report, as always.

Those were all good. the first pic grabbed my attention with the blue water. I am assuming that water would be quite cold?

I have always enjoyed night shots of cities. It lends a magical feeling. For me anyway. :o)

Those little European cars are darling. I bet they are good with petrol. There is a BBC America program called Top Gear with which I am fascinated with. There are so many new and inventive ideas that we Americans need to incoroprate.

Well, its so so...no,its grand sights all round, why ever would I get a funny idea to walk (or possibly ride a red cycle) on a low key pilgrimage when it's possible to be 'blown away' by no end of beauty instead? Is Santiago de Compostela worth showing us?

This is another impressive series of photos. As usual, I really enjoyed in beautiful sceneries and wonderful buildings of various architectural styles. Bilbao is really beautiful city both the new and the old path of it. It is the town full of history. I noticed those mountains or hills around the town and I like it; that reminds me of my city. By my opinion that give the town some special feeling. Each photo is great and I cannot say which one I like more. Thank you for dropped by on my blog and left your very kind comment. I am sorry that I am late with my comment but I’ve been busy lately.

Hi Gil,Your new page arrangement with xxxtra-large photos seems quite good, such a delight for our eyes but hope you do not go for another re-sizing;) You know we also need some space over the net, Sir;)))Besides kidding, a bunch of THANKS for this great article. I loved especially 'blue skies', what a perfect timing and chance to capture them so lovely as you did, bravo! Believe me I just wanted to a bird flying over those clouds when viewing yr photos...Plus, Ribera Market... would like to be there for a morning coffee rite now. A little bit similarity with Firenze, remember old bridge.Have a fruitful week and can't wait for your upcomming tour. A bientot.

Mirage2gThanks a lot! The header is not such a problem; what I find more annoying is the degraded grey that is left behind the picture, between them and the sidebar… ;((

Tinsie,No killing… didn’t order any «txiquitos»… ;))Thanks!

J,Thanks a lot; it’s a pleasure to read you here!

Julie,Thanks! The light sculpture was a big surprise as during the day it looks rather weird!

Paz,Please take any advice for free… ;) Thanks!

Runee,Bilbao was put in the map by Gehry’s Guggenheim and it actually deserves to be on your short list! That blue River Nervion is also one favourite!

Sue,Thanks! Must confess that it took me some time to catch those three Begoña pictures, but in the end it seems they came out pretty well…

Lynette,I hesitated whether to post the steps or not (mainly because the sky looks rather white!), but it seems the roofs made the picture…

Titania,Thanks! Didn’t try the swim on the Nervion, so won’t be able to confirm your ideas on the temperature of the water; but deep blue doesn’t necessarily mean cold…The small car in the park (maybe publicity for some English/Basque language school) is most probably electric; no petrol pollution in the green… ;)

Noushy Syah,The blues are always the best here (don’t you mention Schalke 04…). Did you notice: F.C.Porto is champion again (third time in a row; 10th in the last 14 years)… and José was gone in 2004!It should justify some Port…

Azer Mantessa,Verandah is surely Portuguese; how could it be otherwise… ;))

Julia,Thanks! For Santiago, you’ll judge by yourself, but it will take probably some three months to get there… ;)

Leena,Thanks. Also had great fun taking some of those pictures and posting them…

Peter,It’s true that the globalization is defeating many old traditions; but is also generating some new ones. I had never seen a tapas bar in Portugal and now we can find some…Thanks for the tips on the template, but this one seems to be a bit tricky!

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About Me

PRE-DIGITAL ERA

This blog started with the pictures taken in the digital era, which means from November 2000 onwards. For the pre-digital period - photos scanned either from paper or from negatives - I created the Revivals:BLOGTROTTER 70s & 80sandBLOGTROTTER 90s.